10% of Nigerians responsible for 26.59% of national income – NBS

By Emmanuel Elebeke
ABUJA – The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS says inequality in Nigeria worsened between 2004 and 2013 but improved in 2016.

In a report released yesterday, the NBS said the inequality which was measured by the Gini/Thiel worsened from 0.356 in 2004 to 0.41 in 2013 but improves to 0.391 in 2016.

Using Thiel, it indicated that inequality worsened from 0.217 in 2003 to 0.395 in 2013 but improved to 0.31 in 2016.

With respect to consumption shares in 2004, the report shows that the bottom 10% (poorest of the poor) of the population consumed 2.56% of goods and services, while the top 10% (super rich) consumed 26.59% of all goods and services.

The richest 10%, however, is said to be responsible for 26.59% of national expenditure or income in 2016. This increased to 33.72% in 2013 but decreased to 31.09% in 2016.

According to NBS, the top 20% were responsible for 42.40% of national income/expenditure in 2004. ‘‘This increased to 48.28% in 2013 but declined to 46.63% in 2016. While no agreed standard definition of the Nigerian Middle class exists, for the purpose of this report we have classified Decile 01-03 as the lower class, Decile 04-07 as the middle class and Decile 08-10 as the upper class,’’ it stated.

Accordingly, the report indicates that upper class was responsible for 58.39% of national income/expenditure down from 59.42% in 2013.

The share of the upper class in national income had been rising between 2004 and 2013 before reducing in 2016.

The middle class on the other hand accounted for 30.26% of national income/expenditure in 2016, higher than 29.14% in 2013.

The share of the middle class had been declining between 2004 and 2013 in favor of the higher class but that reversed in 2016.

The lower class, on the other hand accounted for 11.35% of national income/expenditure in 2016, lower than 11.43% in 2013.

The NBS report however, indicates that the biggest gainers of income/expenditure shares between 2013 and 2016, has been the middle class, while the lower-class share remained constant, whereas, the high-class shares reduced.